Satheesh Reddy appointed new DRDO chief, ending months of suspense

Visitors look at a display of DRDO communication aircraft at the DefExpo 2018 in Chennai | AFP (File) Visitors look at a display of DRDO communication aircraft at the DefExpo 2018 in Chennai | AFP

Ending nearly three months of suspense, the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet on Saturday appointed Dr G. Satheesh Reddy to the post of chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The post of DRDO chief had been lying vacant since May 29 after the last chief, S. Christopher, resigned. The DRDO was overseen by the defence secretary, an IAS officer, in the interim.

Reddy, who was scientific adviser to the defence minister, will serve as DRDO chairman for a period of two years. Reddy, who is director general (Missiles & Strategic Systems), was considered one of the frontrunners for the post of DRDO chief.

Reddy, who holds a doctorate from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, is a globally renowned navigation scientist. Reddy joined DRDO in 1986.

Satheesh Reddy G. Satheesh Reddy | DRDO website

The Narendra Modi government bifurcated the post of DRDO chief and scientific adviser to the defence minister soon after it came to power. However, the continued delay in appointing a new head for DRDO had raised concern over the state of defence research.

DRDO is India's main defence research establishment, having a budget of nearly Rs 20,000 crore and nearly 8,000 scientists working at 50 facilities.

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